Weeding-tool.



Patented Aug. l5, |899.

J. m. sTRouT. WEEDING TOUL.

[Application led Nov. 21, 1898.)

.No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH M. STROUT, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

WEEDING-TOOL.

srEcIrroA'rIoN forming pare of Letters Patent No. 630,946, dated August 1 5, 1899.

Application filed November 2l, 1898. Serial N0. 697,056. (No model.)

To @ZZ Ywho/n, it 11mg/ concern:

Be it known that l, JOSEPH M. STROUT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, lin the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Weeding-Tool, of which the following is a Specification.

This invention relates to garden tools or implements and the object thereof is to provide a transplanter or a weeding-tool adapted to penetrate the ground and grasp the roots of a perspective view of the device modied to provide a weeding-tool. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a second modified form of implement.

Like numerals of reference denote like and corresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1, the implement preferably consists of a handle 1, of suitable length to obviate the necessity of the operator stooping, and a pair of spring-arms 2 and 3. These arms are preferably formed from a single length of spring metal into an approximate U shape, having a shank at their bent ends, whereby they are connected to the handle. One of the arms 2 is provided with a loop 4, which embraces the other arm to form a guide and a stop therefor to limit the expansion of the arms. An approximately U-shaped strap 5 is provided upon the arm 3 above the loop 4, and the lever 6 is pivoted in said strap intermediate of its ends. The shorter end of this lever is provided with a hook or eye 7, which loosely engages the outer end of the loop 4. The lever is arranged in the same plane as the spring-arms and extends upward toward the handle. A cord S is secured tothe free end of the lever and passes through an eye or pulley 9 near the lower end of the handle and thence along the handle to a point near the upper end thereof, where it passes through an oye 10 and is provided with a ring 11. The

including the roots and accumulated earth, Y

may be taken from the ground and transplanted in another place.

To adapt the implement as a hand-tool, as shown in Fig. 2, the fulcrum-point is formed by a bend 13 in the arm 3, over which the lever 6 engages, and the U-shaped strap 5 acts as a guide to hold the lever in place. This tool is adapted to be grasped by one hand about the bent portion of the arms and over the lever,

whereby the tool may be operated with one hand, leaving the other free for any other purpose. The free end of the lever is preferably curved, as shown, to fit the curved rear end of the spring-arms when the latter are drawn together.

A second modified form of implement is illustrated in Fig. 3, in which 15 designates a metallic arm lixedly carried by a wooden or other suitable handle 16, the two forming together a stationary arm. The other arm 17 is pivoted intermediate of its ends within a bearing fork or loop 18, mounted upon the handle, and the rear end of the arm 17 is bent or deilected, as at 19, toward the handle. Means for operating this pi voted arm are provided in the shape of a lever 20, pivoted intermediate of its ends in a loop or fork 21, carried by the handle upon the same side as and alined with the fork 1S. A suitable hinged joint 22 connects the adjacent ends of the arm 17 and the operating-lever 20. The arms 15 and 17 may be provided with either the segmental or fiat blades, as desired. This form of implement is operated by forcing the outerend of the lever 2O toward the handle 16, which, through its hinged connection with the pivoted arm 17, will throw the latter toward the stationary arm 15 to engage the roots of the plant, as heretofore explained in connection with the other forms of the implement.

In Fig. l the implement has been illustrated as a transplanter, being provided with seg- IOO mental blades, and in Fig. 2 it is shown as equipped with flat blades to form a weeding implement. However, it will be understood that either the segmental or dat blades may be provided upon either of the forms of the implement,so that each maybe used as a transplanter or as a weeding-tool.

The construction and arrangement herein set forth provides a transplanter or a weedingtool in which the arms carrying the blades may easily and edectively be clamped about the plant or weed to remove the same from the ground.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I c1aim` is 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair of spring-arms carrying blades at their free ends, of a guide in the form of a loop carried by one of the arms and embracing the other arm, and a lever connected with the loop and adapted to engage a fulcrum-point on one of said arms, whereby the arms may be drawn or forced together, substantially7 as shown and described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair of spring-arms carrying blades at their free ends, of a guide in the form of a loop attached to one of the arms and embracing the other and providing a stop therefor, and a lever loosely connected to the outer end of the loop and adapted to engage a fulcru m-point provided on one of said arms, whereby the arms may be drawn or forced together, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair of spring-arms carrying blades at their free ends, of a guide in the formof a loop, embracing the arms and providing a stop therefor, a lever loosely connected to one end of the loop, an approximately U-shaped strap provided upon one of said arms and embracing the lever, and a fulcrum-point on the latter arm for said lever, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair of spring-arms carrying blades at their free ends, of a guideloop provided upon one of the arms, embracing the other arm and forming a stop therefor, a lever loosely connected to the outer end of the loop, an approximately U-shaped strap provided upon one of said arms and embracing the lever, the latter being pivoted within said strap, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a pair of spring-arms carrying blades at their free ends, of a guideloop provided upon oneof the arms, embracing the other arm and forming a stop therefor, a lever loosely connected to the outer end of the loop, an approximately U-shaped strap provided upon one of said arms and embracing the lever, the latter being pivoted to 'the strap, substantially as shown and described'.

6. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a pair of spring-arms car-v rying blades at their free ends and a handle at their other ends, of a guide-loop provided upon y011e of the arms, embracing the other arm and forming a stop therefor,'a lever connected to s aid loop aud adapted to engage a fulcrum-point formed on one of said arms, eyes or pulleys provided upon the handle, and a cord or other suitable means connected to the lever and passing through the eyes or pulleys, whereby the arms may be operated, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing v"as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOSEPH M. s'rRoU'r. Witnesses:

JOHN J. GooDY, FRANK H. HASKELL. 

